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juin 20, 2014 | SOI General: Headquarters

New Jersey Embraces Unified Sports

By Christy White

Members of the unified soccer team for Special Olympics New Jersey saw the new legislation signed into law.

Young people with disabilities don't often get a chance to play on their school sports teams, but more and more U.S. states are adopting the unified sports approach that Special Olympics pioneered. The governor of New Jersey just signed a bill into law that encourages schools to make opportunities for sports participation available to all students. Special Olympics New Jersey, which championed the new law, is cited in the new law as a consulting organization. For almost 20 years, Special Olympics has offered sport teams that blend people with and without intellectual disabilities. It's a model that encourages sports and fun, and which also gets people together to learn more about each other. Read more about the new law in the press release below.